Existential/Humanistic therapists in Albemarle, North Carolina NC
Existential/Humanistic
Stegall Counseling PLLC
Licensed Professional Counselor, LCMHC, NCC, LRT, CTRS
I’m different than most therapists out there. What makes therapy with me different?
Well in order to understand that, let me tell you the quick story of why I became a therapist.
After graduating from college, I felt lost. I bounced from job to job, but struggled to find my true passion in life. I was scared I would never find what I was supposed to do in life and this caused me intense anxiety.
I didn’t feel like myself.
My family and friends were really concerned about me because I stopped laughing all the time and instead I wanted to stay home and avoid people.
I kept trying to keep my thoughts positive, but I found that when working in a toxic work environment it was hard to keep my thoughts positive. Instead I would find myself checking my heart rate, having feelings like I want to pass out, and wanting to RUN to my car to get home ASAP. These emotions were exhausting and draining.
My mom was the one who told me that I really needed to go see a counselor to talk about what was going on with me, since I was constantly irritable and never happy.
I struggled with the idea of having to call to set up an appointment.
I thought to myself… “A therapist won’t understand me and she will just judge me!”
After struggling for a couple more weeks with complete misery, I could no longer live with so much anxiety anymore and I made the call to set up my initial appointment.
On my way to the appointment, I almost had a panic attack in the car. I was crying the whole way there so scared of what she might think or say.
Once I arrived, I sat in my car for a few minutes, but decided I needed to go into the office.
I was breathing so hard that I was afraid I was about to have a panic attack.
After checking in with the front desk, I had to get some water and sit down while trying to make myself relax.
Once I sat down in her office, she was the most genuine person I have ever met.
Therapy was nothing like I had expected.
She helped to make me feel accepted and to understand that my emotions are important. She helped me to understand that my emotions help to guide me in life, but when they become so intense they become ineffective.
The more I understood what emotions I was feeling such as sadness, upset, frustrated, angry, irritated, mad, resentful, and embarrassed, the more I realized there were so many things I didn’t know about MYSELF or really didn’t want to admit to myself.
I attended therapy weekly for several months and began to identifying that the job I was working was NOT what I wanted to do for a living AND not where my TRUE PASSION was in life.
I decided that I could no longer continue to live in this state of HIGH INTENSE ANXIETY. I knew that my mental health was first priority.
I found the experience to be the complete OPPOSITE of what I expected it to be. I expected judgement but instead she gave grace, compassion, and empathy. She helped to ask me questions which caused me to be real with myself in what I truly wanted from life – HAPPINESS, COMPASSION, PEACE, LAUGHTER, AND EMPATHY FOR OTHERS.
I realized that by going to counseling personally, I wanted to become a counselor so that I could help others in their personal struggles and for them to know someone is there to walk with them through this thing called life.
7 Years Experience
Existential/Humanistic
Dr. Mike Strand
Psychologist, PsyD
Hey there! I’m Mike Strand, an experienced psychologist with over 15 years of dedication to guiding individuals on their journey of self-improvement. My expertise lies in helping clients overcome emotional challenges to enhance personal growth and strengthen relationships. I recognize that seeking support can be difficult, which is why I will strive to make therapy as welcoming and approachable as possible. Our sessions are collaborative, tailored to your specific needs, facilitating deep and lasting transformation.
16 Years Experience
Existential/Humanistic
Meghan McCoy-Smith
Psychologist, PsyD
Whether you are experiencing a crisis, simply having a bad day, or struggling with issues such as depression, anxiety, or trauma, I am dedicated to helping you navigate these challenges and find renewed hope. I have a passion for healing and a commitment to making a positive impact and have dedicated my career to helping individuals from all walks of life. From hospitals to clinics, I have applied my therapeutic expertise to provide much-needed support and guidance to those in need. Through a compassionate approach, I work to instill a sense of resilience and empower my clients to develop lasting strategies to overcome obstacles.
9 Years Experience
Existential/Humanistic
Dr. Christine Manley
Psychologist, PhD in Clinical Psychology
I believe in personalized therapy that reduces symptoms, enhances personal wellness and reflects state-of-the-art scientific research and treatment methods. Many people are not sure if therapy is right for them. These individuals are often drawn to my approach because I focus on personal empowerment, encourage questions about the process, and develop very unique and collaborative treatment plans.
I'm very skilled when treating individual adults. As a generalist, I can treat a variety of challenges. I'm especially skilled with depression, trauma/PTSD, anxiety, stress, perfectionism, personality, relationships, intimacy, interpersonal conflicts and family dynamics. My training background includes CBT, CPT, DBT, MI and psychodynamic approaches.
9 Years Experience
Existential/Humanistic
Dr. Sophia Aguirre
Psychologist, Ph.D., CGP, F-AGPA
I am a Licensed Psychologist and founder of the Aguirre Center of Inclusive Psychotherapy, a group practiced dedicated to providing culturally-affirming psychotherapy. I have a passion for working with folks who hold marginalized identities including Latinx, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and relationship-structure minorities.
I have over a decade of experience of providing psychotherapy to individuals, couples, and groups with a wide-range of concerns and struggles, but a common focus in my clinical work is helping individuals establishing healthier, more authentic relationships with themselves and with others.
15 Years Experience